Electric switch.



c. T, EVANS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION min APR. 10. 1914.

1,24=3,722. Patented Oct. 23,1917.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE T. EVANS, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE CUTLER-HAMMER MFG. 00., 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WIS- CONSIN.

, ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Patented Oct. 23, 1917.

Application filed April 10, 1914. Serial No. 831,034.

vent accldental operation thereof while released.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafterappear in connection with the embodiment of the invention illustrated inthe accompanying draw- 7 ing and now to be described.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a ront elevation of the switch with a. part thereof brokenaway and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the switch.

The switch as illustrated, includes stationary main and arcing contacts12, co-

' operating contacts 3-4, a magnet 5 for opoutward impulse or cratingthe latter contacts and a device 6 for locking the contacts 3-4 out ofengagement with contacts 1-2 when the magnet is deenergized.

The magnet 5 is mounted in a sultable magnetic frame 7 and has amagnetic core 8 projecting slightly beyond the outer end thereof. Thecontacts 3-4 are mounted upon a magnetic member 9 pivoted to the magnetframe, as at 10, and constituting an armature for the magnet 5. Thearrangement is such that when the magnet 5 is energized it attracts itsarmature 9 to move the contacts 3-4 into engagement with the contacts1'-2, whereas the armature gravitates away from the magnet whendeenergized to separate said contacts. Further, a spring 11 interposedbetween the carrier of the contact 3 and the armature '9 serves, amongother purposes, to give the armature 9 an kick-off when the magnet isdeenergized.

The locking device 6 comprises an arm pivoted at one end to a suitablesupporting post 12. This arm projects between the magnet 5 and itsarmature 9 and carries a pin 13 projecting toward said armature. Thearrangement is such that the arm 6 may be raised and lowered torespectively move the pin 13' into and out of the path of the contact 4.Further, the parts are so arranged that when the pin is in the formerposition it positively prevents suflicient inward movement of thearmature to eifect engagement of the contacts, whereas movement of saidpin to the latter position relieves the armature of such restraint.

The operation of the arm 6 is entirely automatic and controlled by themagnet 5. It is provided with a spring 14 for normally holding the samein raised position and is constructed wholly or in part of magneticmaterial to be attracted and drawn downwardly against the action of thespring 14 by-said magnet when energized. As illustrated, the arm 6 is sodisposed as to be drawn against the core 8 and is provided at its pointof contact with a non-magnetic part 15 to effect a quick release thereofwhen the magnet is deenergized. Also as illustrated, the arm 6 isprovided with a non-magnetic lug 16 engaging a part of the magnet frameto limit the upward movement of said arm and, to maintain its magneticpart out of engagement with said frame.

The operation of the switch as a whole is as follows: With the partspositioned as illustrated in Fig. 2, the magnet, when energized,attracts both the arm 6 and armature 9 and by the attraction of theformer unlocks the latter. Thus the armature 9 moves inwardly to effectengagement of the contacts.

Deenergization of the magnet in turn effects the release of both thearmature 9 and the arm' 6, whereupon both members return to thepositions illustrated, thereby again winding and a pivoted lockoutmember located between said contact member and said Winding and movablein a plane at right angles to the plane of movement of said contactmember, said lockout member being biased toward a position to obstructmovement of said contact member to closed position and being attractableto the projecting end of said core to permit full movement of saidcontact member to closed position upon 10 energization of said Winding.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two witnesses.

' CLARENCE T. EVANS. Witnesses:

LEHLA BART, L. A. WATSON.

